I never really had acne growing up. Actually, it wasn't until I started my first year of college that I started to break out immensely. I've never seen anything like it and I was scared that it would never go away because all of my usual face washes only seemed to make everything worse. At the time I was using the Netrogena pink grapefruit acne wash. I used it all throughout high school and it always saved me so I was confused as to why it wasn't working. In fact anything abrasive seemed to make it 10x worse. I mostly broke out on my cheeks then later out of nowhere on my forehead.
It was a very trying time for me. The worst year of my life. College started in September 2016 and I battled with this acne until the end of the year and throughout 2017. Nearing the end of 2017 however it got better as I learned more about why acne happens and many methods to treating it. So this year 2018 has honestly been the best my skin has been since high school. So today, if you are like me and have had a random burst of acne after not really haven't for the majority of your life or if you're someone who just want some guidance with dealing with long term acne I have some pretty effective tips for you that I have personally tried and that others around me have tried and worked.
TIPS:
WASH YOUR PILLOWS AND PILLOW CASES REGULARLY
This is so so so so important. You should AT LEAST wash your pillowcases every weekend or once a week. This will limit the amount of oil, dirt and dust on them. This is especially important if you have slept with your hair down. The oils from your hair can get trapped within the cloth and when it comes into contact with your face you will get an uninvited little guest. Trust me. I know this pain. It is also very important to wash your pillows AT LEAST every 3 months for the same reasons listed above.
USE SOAP
This may sound weird but trust me it works. I found out that the facial washes that we use can be the reason why our skin isn't getting any better due to the fact that they contain a lot of harsh chemicals that tend to cause dryness and when the skin is dry it tends to produce excess sebum which is a fatty oil used to lubricate the skin. Too much, and you have a break out. Studies have shown using regular soap maybe a much better option. Why do you think a lot of guys only use soap and have perfect skin? Ironic right. I personally use red soap because it is antibacterial
This is the brand I use. You should, if you have, use a moisturizer that doesn't break you out. I'm currently searching for one. I was using Bio oil but i'm having mixed feelings about it so the search is still on.
USE ZINC
I haven't personally tried this but I've seen persons have results from using zinc pills. Zinc is a medicine that kills acne causing bacteria. You can buy it in the pill form and take it as much as recommended by your doctor or you can crush it and make it into a paste and use it as a spot treatment where ever the acne appears.
SLEEP!!
I learned this the hard way after deciding to stay up till all hours of the morning during the summer of 2016 after graduating high school which inevitably became the reason I had persistent acne especially on my cheeks as i learned that when there are respiratory problems you tend to break out here and because i wasn't getting enough rest and going to bed super late like 4 or 6 in the morning i broke out here severely. Sleep is crucial in the reduction of acne so make sure you go to bed early to get sufficient rest. This article I found in my first year of college will explain exactly why you need to get sufficient rest and to sleep early. https://porcelainfacespa.com/how-does-sleep-deprivation-lead-to-acne/
USE ASPIRIN
I have just recently started doing this literally a month ago and i am truly shocked by how well this works. Whenever i get a flare i wash my face normally then i take 1-2 aspirin depending on how many spots i need to treat and i mash them into a paste with less than a drop of water and apply it to the area. It hardens after a while. I go to bed with it then wash it off in the morning. Sometimes, like today because i had to go out, i had a flare so I only left it on for maybe 20 minutes and the area is literally so smooth now. It reduces the inflammation and also helps to fight bacteria. I would 10/10 recommend doing this it honestly amazes me how well this works.
EXERCISE
I know I know you're probably like "Ok bye" but just listen. This is not completely mandatory to do but i will say i recently started working out and my skin has just been so much brighter and the acne flares have lessened tremendously. We all know exercise is good for overall health so give it a try.
DRINK WATER
Now i have a love and hate relationship with this tip but i do believe it can help. I don't believe you need to go crazy and drink like 5 bottles of water but if your body is dehydrated you can't expect your skin to look it's best now can you? All i'm saying is replace at least one meal that you'd normally drink with a soda or juice with a cup of water. It's the litle things ya know.
TAKE OFF MAKEUP
My last tip should be common sense but here it is anyways. Do not sleep in your makeup and definitely do not workout in it. I get you wanna look all cute if you're going to the gym but honey, not at the expense of your face. If someone wants you look at you funny just put on your earphones and block them out.
A COUPLE THINGS TO ADD
This is just a little extra info: As a spot treatment you can also use tea tree oil instead of aspirin. As a toner to replace using oil or moisturiser after washing your face use Witch Hazel. Do a mask at least once a week the most twice and exfoliate at least once a week, the most twice.
I hope these tips were super helpful to some of you and I hope your skin truly gets better. Take care <3
